Early morning alarm clock isn´t a part of a perfect holiday concept for many, but some of us know this is often the time when those special magical moments happen. As I´m not a big sleeper anyway, I don´t have to think twice whether I want to get up and watch the sunrise or not. Besides, quiet mornings while everybody is still sleeping are especially precious to me since I became a mom. In this post I have gathered some of my personal best sunrise experiences from around the world. Read more to see which ones are on my list.
MOSES MOUNTAIN | SINAI PENINSULA, EGYPT
We started this hike up the Moses Mouintan (2,629m above sea level) in the darkness of the night and walked for several hours before reaching the top. While hiking up, we only had our flash lights and had no clue how stunning the landscape surrounding us actually was. Until we found our spot on the top just before the sun rose and watched while it coloured the rocky hills in dreamy orange-pink shades. It was a wonderful moment, well worth the hike.
READ MORE ABOUT SINAI PENINSULA
ULURU | AUSTRALIA
In Uluru – Kata Tjuta national park in central Australia you can see one of the most iconic sunrises in the world. There are a couple of spots to do so, but here I´m presenting the most known one, the sacred Aboriginal monolithic rock mountain, Uluru. You really don´t see such powerful orange colours that often.
ANGKOR WAT | SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
Years ago when I visited, one could choose between 1-3 day passes to visit these famous temples in Angkor Wat. My student wallet allowed me the 1 day pass so I had to do my best to squeeze in as many temples I could. Of course I got up before 4 am to catch the sunrise, which is really a stunning sight over here.
MORNING SAFARI | ETOSHA NP, NAMIBIA
Regardless to which park in Africa you are visiting, the early morning or the late afternoon, just before sunset are usually the best times to spot wild animals. We´ve been quite lucky so far and have visited lots of parks in different countries but one of the best morning safari experiences was right here in Etosha national park, Namibia.
BACKWATERS | KERALA, INDIA
During our month long trip in India we couldn´t miss taking a few days cruise on a lovely houseboat in Allepy backwaters, Kerala. It was a bit more expensive, but totally worth it. I believe it is also possible to do just a day cruise on the water channels, but sleeping on the boat for a few nights and waking up into those perfect peaceful mornings is something different. Sunrises and the morning everyday life on the river banks here were unforgettable.
DESERT SUNRISE | MERZOUGA, MOROCCO
Sunrise in any desert is a winner for me. Probably because I find it utterly amazing to watch the colours change from second to second and feel the power of the sun warming up the cold sand. Every time I am speechless and amazed by the vastness and silence of the desert which makes me feel small. I´ve witnessed one of the best desert sunrises while on a camel trek here in Merzouga.
MORNING ON THE GANGES | VARANASI, INDIA
The atmosphere on Ganges holy river banks here in Varanasi is one of a kind and truly unforgettable. Visiting this spiritual sight was one of the highlights of my Indian trip, despite the fact that it was sometimes difficult to comprehend everything that was going on. The best way to see the morning activities is to hop on one of the smaller wooden boats just before sunrise and saild down the river for a couple of hours.
MIDNIGHT SUN | LOFOTEN, NORWAY
Technically this could be sunset and sunrise at the same time. Here in northern Europe in summer time the sun doesn´t really set behind the horizon at all. It stops just above it and the rises up again. It is a very unique sunrise and we were watching it even before we went to bed, at 1am with a glass of whiskey.
OVERNIGHT BOAT | HALONG BAY, VIETNAM
Halog bay in northern Vietnam is a beautiful place and I highly recommend taking a few days cruise on one of the traditional wooden boats instead of doing just a day trip. By spending a couple of nights on the boat you will enjoy such peaceful mornings, sipping coffee while enjoying the views. The limestone mountains and rocks are amazing in any time of the day, but when the rising sun colours them in yellow-orange shades they are even more impressive.
BRYCE CANYON NATIONAL PARK | USA
Bryce Canyon National Park is just of of the many incredible parks in this part of USA, but it was one of my favourites. The famous natural amphitheatre with its pinnacles and numerous hiking trails between them is even more magical during sunrise. Definitely well-worth getting up early.
BETWEEN THE VOLCANOS | KISORO, UGANDA
Those cold sunny mornings in Mgahinga Gorilla national park close to Kisoro, waking up to mighty volcano peaks wrapped in misty fog and watching the morning sun colouring surrounding green hills, are definitely special times to remember.
„MORGENRÖTE” | NORTHERN GERMANY
This one is not from a specific geographical place but I simply must include it. Many winter mornings in northern Germany, where we live at the moment, look like this. The picture has no filter over it and the colours really light up the sky in these incredible strong pink and orange shades.
BEACH MORNINGS | ESPIRITU SANTO, VANUATU
This might not look like something special at first sight, but for us these were one of the most incredible mornings. Here in Port Olry, Lu and me were sleeping on the beach in a tent and had the most amazing views when we unzipped our front “door”. All to ourselves.
READ MORE ABOUT ESPIRITU SANTO
NILE CRUISE | EGYPT
I am the last person who likes cruise boats, but when we are talking about a traditional old school cruise down the Nile – count me in anytime! This was a wonderful adventure and I was so happy to enjoy such peaceful mornings on the upper deck or on our little room balcony, while we cruised into the sunrise between the orange hills.
READ MORE ABOUT OUR NILE CRUISE
I´m sure there are many more places to watch such picture perfect sunrises in the world and I´m keeping my fingers crossed we´ll see many more of them soon. I have at least Cappadocia and Bagan on my list, any other recommendations?
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Comments 30
Having spent time in Kerala just a couple of months ago, I saw a spectacular sunrise at the backwaters of Alleppey there. I’m yearning to see a sunrise while on a boat in the Nile river now. Such beautiful recommendations!
Author
Oh the backwaters are so amazing, right? It was one of my favourite places in India. And yeah, a Nile cruise is something special too 🙂
Beautiful!! So well rounded and well written. And some beautiful shots too! I’m a sunset girl, but this definitely inspires me to see even more sunrises, especially since I am a morning person too. Am going to click through to Norway now, as that is high on my list!
Author
Thank you Daphne! Agree with the sunsets though, I love those too :). And as for Norway – it is absolutely stunning and well-worth going to!
I’d love to go to each and every one of these places, but the top 3? Vanuatu, Morroco & Angkor Wat. Oh my <3 One day, one day…. 🙂
Mexico wasn't bad either! 😉
Author
Keeping our fingers crossed we can all go somewhere soon again, I would mind to check out a Mexican sunrise 🙂
My favourite sunrise has to have been over the multi-coloured lakes of Kelimutu volcano on Flores, Indonesia. Worth the early wake-up!
Author
DEborah oh yeah I believe you, I´ve only seen pictures of it so far, but it really looked like an amazing sunrise experience! One day 🙂
These are so beautiful! I love sunrises and the one of Egypt looks so marvellous 😍
Author
Thanks Charu, I really couldn´t pick a favourite, but Egypt was awesome I agree 🙂
Oh my god love these! you have just made me add a few more places to my bucket list
Author
Happy to hear that, I hope to add a few more in the following years myself 🙂
I loved the sunrise in Cambodia and would love to witness all of them someday.
Author
Keeping my fingers crossed for you Suvarna 🙂
Loved seeing the sunrise at Angkor Wat but still have so many more to see on this list. Like the one on the Nile cruise through Egypt. Great list!
Author
Thank you Kelly! Angkor Wat is such a special places, I loved it too. Let´s hope we all get to see more of sunrises all over the globe 🙂
These are all dreamy spots to see the sunrise. Out of this bunch, I’ve seen it in the Sahara Desert in Morocco, Angkor Wat and Halong Bay. 🙂 I was supposed to see it in Bryce Canyon last month, but I’ll have to wait until summer. Beautiful shots!
Author
Thank you so much Taylor! Oh and I´m so sorry for Bryce Canyon, fingers crossed it works out in the summer then, it is really stunning out there and don´t forget to get up for the sunrise 🙂
You guys have had some amazing travel sunrises! Your Vanuatu post brings me back.
Author
Yeah I love to get up early and have my moment of peace 🙂 Vanuatu is awesome, isn´t it?
This post has filled me with so so so much wanderlust!
Author
Great, I guess we all need a little bit of positive travel inspiration these days 🙂
The only one on the list I’ve seen is Uluru! It’s such a stunning place. I think I saw both sunset and then sunrise the next morning.
Author
Oh yes, a lot of the places on my list are equaly wonderful at sunsets, not all though. Uluru is definitely worth seeing in different times of the day, I agree 🙂
I’d love to see the sunrise from Bryce Canyon National Park. This place looks absolutely incredible! Thanks for all this inspiration!
Author
You´re welcome, Bryce is awesome! Well, all the other places too 🙂
You’ve seen some beautiful sunrises! Out of these I’ve seen them on the Nile in Egypt, Angkor Wat, the midnight sun in Lofoten, on the Ganges river in Varanasi and in the Sahara desert in Morocco as well! Loved all your photos!
Author
Hey Marisa, thanks – you´ve seen many too! Sometimes it´s really worth getting up early, isn´t it 🙂
These places are gorgeous! I need to add all of these destinations to my bucket list
Author
Thanks Marika, I have a quite some more on my list as well 🙂